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Nathan Slake's avatar

Reading this whilst emerging from the sleepy state of post-surgery lent this an even more magical aura.

I'm partway and want to highlight some passages that speak to me. I thought I'd copied one but apparently not so, so I'll be back in a moment ...

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Rick Lewis's avatar

I was most drawn in by the same passages of character sketch Nathan. For me it was especially this, "Most of all, her unawareness of being attractive."

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

That, to me, is key. So hard to find, though. Thank you, Rick!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Yes, I found myself also wanting to quote that one too! I have known several women like this and it is certainly a lovely thing.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

You're lucky, Nathan! That's the rarest!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

"She was attractive. The kind of attractive I could lose my head over: a non-evident, unassuming, certainly non-standard beauty

...

a gaze so penetrating it could etch the farthest surface of your sole."

Stunning. I know this feeling!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Ok finished. Wondrous. Again. Where will it lead? I'm excited to find out.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

The phrasing of this, and simply the specific thing this is getting at, is great!

"If we made it this far as friends, enjoying each other’s company, it’s because I inhibited your dopaminergic system in my presence. In brief, I blocked what drives curiosity in your brain."

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Nathan! I'm so glad you liked this. For some reason, I'm not surprised my description of 'my kind of attractive' resonates with you. I'm grateful and honored to have you as a reader, especially in your current circumstances. Thank you again, my friend. Feel better!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks, Silvio. I'll be giving this another read once I'm a little more rested, as I'm sure I'll have missed some little details.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Your full and proper recovery is the priority now! Thank you again!

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Remanon Last's avatar

Reading this alongside my first coffee of the day... wonderful, simply wonderful.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Remanon!

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Lea's avatar

I read Margherita Part 11, then wanted to the words. I let ‘Parco Sempion go, the reader dropped the E, Sempione. By the time I reached GelaDo, I was finished. ??? Silvio, why not read your own stories?

Your story, fact or fiction, is brilliant. I do believe you are the only one left that notices the finer details. Bravo, Silvio!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, L.! Not sure I understand the first part of your comment, but thank you!

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

So intriguing! I love all the details. And anything with a mysterious map makes me curious…

Bravo!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Kate. Mysterious AND drawn by hand... Glad you liked it!

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Eric Ho's avatar

Your description of Margherita keeps the enticing allure of her magical presence. It’s like she’s sitting right here beside me, whispering in my ear about Silvio the storyteller, the curiosity quencher, the soul etcher.

I think I know a Margherita like this.

I’m eagerly anticipating part 3

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Eric! Thank you for this beautiful comment! Who knows where this'll go; I'm as curious as you are! :)

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Rose Campbell's avatar

Gosh I love your writing, and I can’t wait for the next installment of this intriguing story!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Rose!

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Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

"As if I was shook by invisible hands, my eyelids parted widely, shelving the idea of sleep indefinitely. When I turned toward her, she was asleep." Ahh, the realisation and inability to get to the core of the matter. An itch you can never scratch. Or will we? Maybe with enough solitude... Excellent foreboding and tension building, we can't get to Switzerland soon enough!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Alexander! "Maybe with enough solitude" -- there you go, my friend. We'll cross the Alps soon enough!

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Alison Young's avatar

I somehow thought it was going to be a two-part story. So very glad I was wrong! Keep the delicious intrigue going …

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

I thought the same thing! But no, it continues. Thank you!

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CansaFis Foote's avatar

...oh man...can't wait to hear where this goes...

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you! Stay tuned. :)

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Anna Schott's avatar

This is starting to feel like it could be a film. In my mind, Charlotte Gainsbourg is Margherita. But where is the red X??

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

I take this as a compliment, thank you! And CG would be perfect for the role, I 100% agree. The red X is somewhere, out there. I'm afraid you're going to have to wait for the sequel to find out. :)

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